Water Being Too Scarce
To Make Bread, I Contented Myself With Coffee And Parched Grain.
"At daylight on the 29th we resumed our journey, and passed by an
encampment of the Eesa, About noon we reached Warrahambili.
Thus far we
have done well, but the slaves are now so exhausted that a halt of two
days will be necessary to recruit their strength. In this Wady we found an
abundance of slightly brackish water, and a hot spring.
"_Sunday, 30th January._--A Caffilah, travelling from Tajoorah to Shoa,
passed by. The people kindly offered to take my letters. Mahomed ibn
Boraitoo, one of the principal people in the Caffilah, presented me with a
fine sheep and a quantity of milk, which I was glad to accept. There had
been a long-standing quarrel between him and our Ras el Caffilah. When the
latter heard that I accepted the present he became very angry, and said to
my servant, Adam, 'Very well, your master chooses to take things from
other people; why did he not ask me if he wanted sheep? We shall see!'
Adam interrupted him by saying, 'Be not angry; my master did not ask for
the sheep, it was brought to him as a present; it has been slaughtered,
and I was just looking for you to distribute it among the people of the
Caffilah.' This appeased him; and Adam added, 'If my master hears your
words he will be angry, for he wishes to be friends with all people.' I
mention the above merely to show how very little excites these savages to
anger. The man who gave me the sheep, hearing that I wished to go to
Tajoorah, offered to take me there in four days. I told him I would first
consult the Ras el Caffilah, who declared it would not be safe for me to
proceed from this alone, but that from Dakwaylaka (three marches in
advance) he himself would accompany me in. The Ras then presented me with
a sheep.
"We resumed our journey at 1 P.M., January 31st, passed several parties of
Eesa, and at 8 P.M. halted at Burroo Ruddah.
"On February 1st we marched from 4 A.M. to 11 A.M., when we halted in the
Wady Fiahloo, dry at this season. Grass was abundant. At 3 P.M. we resumed
our journey. Crossing the plain of Amahdoo some men were observed to the
southward, marching towards the Caffilah; the alarm and the order to close
up were instantly given; our men threw aside their upper garments and
prepared for action, being fully persuaded that it was a party of Eesa
coming to attack them. However, on nearer approach we observed several
camels with them; two men were sent on to inquire who they were; they
proved to be a party of Somalis going to Ousak for grain. At 8 P.M. we
halted on the plain of Dakwaylaka.
"At daylight on February the 2nd, the Ras el Caffilah, Deeni, and Mahomed
accompanied me in advance of the caravan to water our mules at Dakwaylaka.
Arriving there about 11 A.M. we found the Bedoos watering their cattle.
Mahomed unbridled his animal, which rushed towards the trough from which
the cattle were drinking; the fair maid who was at the well baling out the
water into the trough immediately set up the shrill cry of alarm, and we
were compelled to move about a mile up the Wady, when we came to a pool of
water black as ink. Thirsty as I was I could not touch the stuff. The
Caffilah arrived about half-past 1 P.M., by which time the cattle of the
Bedoos had all been driven off to grass, so that the well was at our
service. We encamped close to it. Ibrahim recommended that Adam Burroo of
the Assoubal tribe, a young Bedoo, and a relation of his should accompany
our party. I promised him ten dollars at Tajoorah. [3] At 3 P.M., having
completed my arrangements, and leaving one servant behind to bring up the
luggage, I quitted the Caffilah amidst the universal blessings of the
people. I was accompanied by Ibrahim, the Ras el Caffilah, Deeni ibn
Hamid, my interpreter, three of my servants, and the young Bedoo, all
mounted on mules. One baggage mule, fastened behind one of my servants'
animals, carried a little flour, parched grain, and coffee, coffee-pot,
frying-pan, and one suit of clothes for each. Advancing at a rapid pace,
about 5 P.M. we came up with a party consisting of Eesa, with their
camels. One of them instantly collected the camels, whilst the others
hurried towards us in a suspicious way. The Bedoo hastened to meet them,
and we were permitted, owing, I was told, to my firearms, the appearance
of which pleased them not, to proceed quietly. At 7 P.M., having arrived
at a place where grass was abundant, we turned off the road and halted.
"At 1:30 A.M., on Thursday, 3rd February, as the moon rose we saddled our
mules and pushed forward at a rapid pace. At 4 A.M. we halted and had a
cup of coffee each, when we again mounted. As the day broke we came upon
an encampment of the Debeneh, who hearing the clatter of our mules' hoofs,
set up the cry of alarm. The Bedoo pacified them: they had supposed us to
be a party of Eesa. We continued our journey, and about 10 A.M. we halted
for breakfast, which consisted of coffee and parched grain. At noon we
again moved forward, and at 3 P.M., having arrived at a pool of water
called Murhabr in the Wady Dalabayah, we halted for about an hour to make
some bread. We then continued through the Wady, passed several Bedoo
encampments till a little after dark, when we descended into the plain of
Gurgudeli. Here observing several fires, the Bedoo crawled along to
reconnoitre, and returned to say they were Debeneh.
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